Line-indicator for copyists



(No Model.)

0; L. HASTINGS. LINE INDICATOR FOR OOPYISTS.

Patented May 26 M/VE/VTUR I fiarZes lljiwio'nys ATTORNEYS.

"(DREW 8,6RAHAMFHOTG'UTHD WASHINGTON D6 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. HASTINGS, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

LINE-INDICATOR FOR COPYiSTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 560,989, dated May 26,1896. A Application filed February 3, 1896. $erial No. 577,883. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. HASTINGS, a citizen of the United States,residing at J acksonville, in the county of Morgan and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inLine-Indicators for Copyists, of which the following specification contains a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part thereof, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view illustrating my improvement. Fig. 2 is a detailperspective view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical section thereof. Fig.4 is a detail section on line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail section online 5 5, Fig. 3.

The invention relates to that class of devices known as line-indicatorsfor copyists.

The main object of the invention is to provide a line-indicator with apneumatic operating mechanism.

A further object is to provide the rod of the operating-piston with aclamp which will engage the indicator-carrier strip in the forward throwof the piston, but disengage itself in the rearward throw and thusimpart a stepby-step feed to the carrier bar or strip and the indicatorcarried thereby.

A further object is to regulate the length of this step-by-step feed toagree with the lines of the matter being copied; also to provide such anapparatus which will be simple and comparatively inexpensive.

The invention will be first described, and then specifically pointed outin the claims.

A represents a simple form of air-con1- 4 the rod B of which projectsdown through the lower end of the cylinder, where it is pivotallyconnected to a friction feeding clamp or grip E, which grasps and slidesthe carrier strip or bar F, which carries the indicator F, as will bepresently described. This clamp E is formed in two parts E E the sectionE sliding in ways 0 in the slotted standard 0, and provided with ears 6,between which the adjacent inclined end of the clamp-section E ispivoted, the opposite end of the section E being pivoted to thepiston-rod B The carrier strip or bar F slides longitudinally along thestandard 0, which has an opening 0 in its upper end and a groove in itslower portion to guide said strip or bar. The strip or bar passesbetween the two clamp sections or members E E and under afriction-spring f, which prevents any accidental slipping. A similarspring 6 is secured upon the opposite side of the standard 0 and bearsupon the clamp-section E and slightly retards its action, so that whenthe piston-rod B is forced down itwill tilt the clamp-section E andcause its inner end to bind the indicatorcarrier F to the section E, andthen the clamp will be forced down and carry the carrier F along withit. As soon as the piston-rod B starts upwardly the clamp E will releasethe carrier F and move upwardly, and the carrier will remain stationaryduring such movement of the clamp.

The throw of the clamp E is limited by the slotted adjustable gage G,mounted on the standard 13 and having a set-screw g.

The lower end of the standard 0 is provided with twoscrew-threadedapertures 0 c and the arm 0 has a lateralprojection c atits inner end which enters either one of said apertures, while a screw 0passing through the arm, enters the other aperture, 0 and secures thearm in place, the projection c preventing the arm from turning on thescrew. Thus the arm C may be made to project to the right or the left ofthe standard 0. The attaching-clamp D may be adjusted in the arm 0 bymeans of the set-screw D By these several adjustments the indicator maybe attached to a copy-holder at the right or left of the copyist, or itmay be attached directlyto a book.

The air-compressor may be arranged for operation by the foot of thecopyist instead of the hand, if desired, and any suitable compressormaybe usedsuch as a simple bulb, for instance.

The operation is as follows: The attaching? clamp D is secured to theupper edge of a book or copy holder, so that the line-indicating rod orbar F will register with the upper line of the matterbeing copied. Thegage G is then adjusted so that the piston-rod B can only have amovement sufficient to move the indicator down the distance of one line.Now by a light tap on the piston-rod of the air-compressor the operatingpiston-rod B will be forced down, and its clamp or gripper E will seizethe carrier-stripF and force it down as far as stop G will permit. Thespring of the air-compressor piston will return it to its normalposition, and this action will also raise or retract the piston B, rod13*, and the clamp E, the carrier F being released and remaining in itsadjusted position, and so on a step-by-step or line-by-line feed will begiven the indicator F. After the indicator has reached the last linebeing copied it may be slid upward again by simply pulling on its upperend or pushing from its lower end.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters latcut, is-

1. A portable pneumatic line-indicating apparatus, consisting of anaircylinder, provided with a piston and adapted for attachment to acopy-holder; a line-indicator, connected with the piston-rod anair-compressor, composed of a cylinder and base adapted forself-support; and a spring-supported piston, working therein, and havinga projecting head; and a flexible tube which connects the said cylinderand air-compressor; as shown and described.

2. A line-indicating mechanism,comprising an attaching or supportingmeans, a cylinder mounted thereon and provided with a piston, acompressor connected with the cylinder for operating its piston, acarrieroperatively connected with said piston to be fed step by step inone direction thereby and a line-indicator carried by said carrier,substantially as set forth.

3. A line-indicatin g mechanism, comprising a standard or support, acylinder mounted thereon and having a piston, a feed clamp or gripconnected to the piston-rod, an indicator carrier strip or bar engagedby said clamp or grip and slid longitudinally step by step in onedirection thereby; the rearward movement of the piston causing the gripor clamp to release the said carrienstrip, and means for operating saidpiston, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the supporting standard or frame and itsattaching or sup porting means, of a cylinder mounted on said standard,a piston in said cylinder, a feed grip or clamp comprising two memberspivoted together, one of said members sliding in ways on the standardand the other pivoted to the piston-rod for operation as described, acarrier strip or bar sliding along the standard and passingbetwcen thetwo members of the clamp or grip to receive a step-by-step feed therebyin one direction, and a fluid-compressor connected with said cylinderfor operating its piston, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the standard or frame and its attaching orsupporting means, of a sliding carrier strip or bar provided with theline-indicator, a spring frictionally engaging the said carrier, a feedclamp or grip Comprising a sliding member moun ted on the said standardand crossed by the said carrier-stri p, and a pivoted member pivoted tothe sliding member to engage said carrier when moved in one directionand bind it to said sliding section, and mechanism for operatingthe saidfeeding clamp or grip, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination with the standard or frame and its attaching orsupporting means, of a sliding carrier strip or bar provided with aline-indicator, a feed clamp or grip comprising a sliding and a pivotedmember between the adjacent surfaces of which the carrier passes toreceive a step-by-step feed the refro1n,an operatingmechanism connectedwith the said pivoted member, and a gage for lim iting the throw of thefeed clamp or grip the distance between two lines, substantially as setforth.

7. The combination with the slotted standard, of the feed clamp or griphaving a sliding section mounted in said slot and a pivoted sectionpivoted to said sliding section and operating mechanism connected withthe outer end of said pivoted section, a friction-s n-ing bearing onsaid sliding section, and a sliding carrier bar or strip passed betweenthe two clamp or grip members, receiving a forward step-by-step feedtherefrom and provided with an indicator bar or rod, substantially asset forth.

8. The combination with the standard. or frame having two threadedapertures, a transverse reversible arm having a lateral projection and aset-screw engaging said apertures, and an attaching-clamp having a poston which the outer end of said arm is mounted, of the carrier-striphaving an indicator bar or arm, and a step-by-step feed mechanism forsaid strip, substantially as set forth.

9. A line-indicator comprising a frame or standard, an attaching orsupporting means therefor a carrier-strip and its indicator-bar, asliding clamp or grip mounted on the said frame or standard andimparting a step-bystep feed to the said carrier-strip, a cylinderhaving a piston connected with said feed clamp or grip, a compressorhaving a springseated plunger or piston and a length of flexible tubingconnecting the compressor with said cylinder to project and retract itspiston and the grip or clamp connected therewith, substantially as setforth.

CHARLES L. IIASTIN 1S.

\Vitnesses:

J OHN F. CLARK, GEORGE L. MERRILL.

